Tera Kelley

This is an excellent and beautifully illustrated picture book that introduces children to the basics of forest ecology, focusing on how trees use underground fungal networks to communicate and share nutrients. I strongly support the idea of introducing kids to basic ecological concepts early in life, so I'm happy that books like this exist. I would especially recommend this book to anyone living in the Pacific Northwest. I live in the region and most of the species portrayed in the book were ones that I'm very familiar with.… (more)

Another horror story about the silent conspiracy of plants planning the downfall of humanity. (See also: Apple and Magnoliaby Laura Gehl.)

The more I learn about plant communication, the more freaked out I get. And here I learn that fungi are part of the conspiracy! The HBO documentary, The Last of Us, shows us how dangerous that crap is.

You can try to barricade your house against your lawn, but know that roots are already infiltrating your foundations in preparation for the day of revolution. Do not invite the enemy inside! Your houseplants are moles, sending out valuable intel to their comrades, ready to turn on you in the middle of the night.

Beware! Beware!

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.)… (more)

Synergy: Conifers

Conifers are plants that bear cones such as pine trees. Spruce, cypress, and redwood trees are other examples. While most are evergreen, some lose their needles and their color may vary from yellow and gold to blue and red along with standard green.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture book for children, then learn more at the websites:

LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE TREES by Tera Kelley shares the story of how forests communicate underground. The story uses a Douglas-fir seedling to describe the interrelationship of the plants and animals in the forest. Of particularly note is the focus on the growth underground. The book concludes with useful science information and ideas.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE from the USGS describes the science of conifer trees through interesting text and photographs.

Go to https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/oh-christmas-tree-science-conifer-trees

THE GYMNOSPERM DATABASE is a website focusing on conifers and their allies. The tree in the story is the Douglas-fir. This website provides useful scientific information including photographs.

Go to https://www.conifers.org/

For the Douglas-fir found in the book, go to https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pseudotsuga_menziesii_menziesii.php

ARC courtesy of Dawn Publications, an imprint of Sourcebooks eXplore.… (more)